Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has ignited controversy by accusing the RCMP of shielding former prime minister Justin Trudeau from potential criminal charges during his time in office.
In an interview with the YouTube channel Northern Perspective, Poilievre described RCMP leadership as “despicable” and claimed Trudeau “probably” broke the law during the SNC-Lavalin affair, suggesting the case should have resulted in charges. He also pointed to Trudeau’s 2016 vacation on the Aga Khan’s private island, calling it a violation of the criminal code.
“These would normally have led to criminal charges, but of course the RCMP covered it all up,” Poilievre said.
The Conservative leader’s remarks revived long-standing controversies, including the SNC-Lavalin scandal, where opposition parties previously accused the Liberals, NDP, and Bloc of blocking RCMP testimony in committee hearings.
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme pushed back Thursday, telling reporters in Toronto that the force acted independently and without political direction. “I don’t take any orders from any political individual,” he said, adding that the SNC-Lavalin matter had been “discussed quite a lot” and was not subject to interference. Duheme also invited Poilievre to meet directly with RCMP officials to discuss his concerns.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree condemned Poilievre’s comments as “deeply irresponsible,” warning they undermine public trust in Canada’s national police force. “Suggesting that Canada’s national police force engages in political cover-ups without evidence is not leadership — it is an attack on the impartiality of law enforcement in our country,” he said in a statement.
Anandasangaree stressed that Canadians can have “full confidence in the RCMP” and that the agency operates independently of elected officials. He called on political leaders to respect the integrity of law enforcement rather than “erode public confidence in the dedicated officers who serve and protect Canadians every day.”
Poilievre’s sharp critique underscores his strategy of tying Trudeau’s legacy to allegations of corruption and secrecy, but it has also triggered a strong institutional defense of the RCMP’s independence.